Nepal chicken demand down 20%

Bird flu reports, supply shortages to blame, say traders

Demand for chicken in Kathmandu, Nepal, has dropped by 20% due to reports of bird flu in Bhaktapur and a shortage of supplies in the capital, according to reports.

The price of chicken has increased by Rs 15 (US$0.18) per kilogram, to Rs 185 (US$2.22) per kilogram, as a result. “The number of buyers has dropped by around 20%," said Janga Bahadur BC, president of Kathmandu Valley Chicken Sellers Association. "However, we are not in a position to lower the price because demand for chicken is still higher than the supply.” Daily consumption has dropped from 200,000 kilograms to 180,000 kilograms, according to city data.